Right up my alley

This theme began after I came across some photos from a fashion studio lighting course I took at NESOP a few years ago. The class was a lot of fun for me, getting the chance to feel what it's like to be on a fashion shoot. It was also a helpful primer in studio lighting and flash, something I hadn't spent much time on in photojournalism. Though one of the best sessions was when we spent the night outside the studio in the surrounding area around Kenmore Square. I found this great spray painted alley as a backdrop, and it's one of my favorite photos from the course.

With that in mind, I thought I'd go in pursuit of more interesting alleys in Boston. There are so many types: garden-like alleys in the South End, industrial ones that run along the T tracks, narrow alleys that snake through the old colonial buildings. It's my kind of subject matter too. I loved walking the streets of the city, eagerly turning down empty alleys. I must have been a strange sight to others, dressed up from work and photographing puddles in alleys. All in the name of photography!